Saudi Arabia’s military has discovered that the Chinese “SkyShield” air defense system, designed by the People’s Republic of China, is struggling to adapt to desert warfare, with its laser weapon failing to achieve the expected results on the battlefield. According to a report from the independent Defense and Security news agency “Defence Blog” on Friday, battlefield applications have shown that the functionality promoted by the SkyShield system cannot be fully utilized in the dusty, high-temperature environment of the Saudi terrain.
As one of the first countries to purchase the “SkyShield” air defense system globally, Saudi Arabia has found serious limitations in the system. In an effort to protect crucial oil facilities and the multi-billion-dollar U.S.-made “Patriot” missile defense system from drone attacks, Saudi Arabia acquired the cost-effective Chinese “SkyShield” system.
A former Saudi military officer involved in the deployment of the SkyShield system in Saudi Arabia told “Defence Blog” that the system’s performance in actual conditions falls below expectations. The SkyShield system is designed with a layered deployment incorporating detection, interception, and destruction. Each system consists of four vehicles: a 3D TWA radar, an AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) anti-drone radar with three side panels that can cover 360 degrees without requiring rotation, two JN1101 anti-drone interference vehicles with intercept and electronic warfare capabilities, and the “Silent Hunter” laser-directed energy weapon designed to destroy drones directly. The radar provides target data for the interference and laser units, integrating the entire system into a networked anti-drone defense system.
The officer pointed out that the “Silent Hunter” laser-directed energy weapon developed by China Electronics Technology Group Corporation is heavily restricted by environmental factors. “In some cases, it may require 15 to 30 minutes of continuous targeting and laser illumination to ensure drone takedown,” the officer explained. This means that in the event of facing rapidly moving threats, the SkyShield system may not be able to respond effectively.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has been targeted by drone attacks repeatedly, including the 2019 strikes on the Abqaiq and Khurais oil facilities, as well as subsequent attacks on airports and energy infrastructure. These incidents exposed weaknesses in Saudi Arabia’s conventional air defense systems. However, following the procurement of the SkyShield system, Saudi Arabia discovered that it did not perform as expected in actual combat.
Firstly, dust and sand interfere with optical tracking, weakening the laser beam. Prolonged exposure can lead to wear and tear on the optical system, and the high temperatures in the desert force much of the system’s energy to be used for cooling rather than firing.
Secondly, deploying the laser modules from truck containers requires installation time, slowing down the transition from standby to combat-ready status. Additionally, the SkyShield system requires the use of long, flat terrain to maintain a clear line of sight, limiting deployment options in most areas of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia has informed Beijing that the SkyShield system is currently struggling to adapt to desert warfare, with its laser weapon still largely in the technical testing phase on the battlefield, failing to achieve actual combat effectiveness.